Blackpool Teaching Hospitals part of new innovative, community-based speciality training programme in Paediatric Dentistry

Hannha Walsh and Lisa Clarke

Hannha Walsh and Lisa Clarke

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals will be one of the trusts involved in a new specialty training programme, in a move to increase the number of specialist paediatric dentists.

Lisa Clarke has taken up the new position of speciality trainee in paediatric dentistry, which is a three-year full-time programme. The role is the first of its kind in the North-West region.

The Trust’s Specialist Dental Services offer a range of community-based support to patients, who, due to personal circumstances are not able to access services from General Dental Practices.

The Specialist-led services provided include special care dentistry, sedation dentistry, paediatric dentistry, and emergency dentistry, at sites across the Fylde Coast and North Lancashire.

Before starting the programme to specialise Lisa had worked across several different fields.

She spoke of her decision to specialise in paediatric dentistry, “During my rotations I enjoyed the challenge of working with children, the variety of care and its rewarding nature.”

Chris Baxter, Head of Specialist Dental Services commented, “We have always had a community paediatric dental service; however, this is now led by Hannah Walsh (Specialist in Paediatric Dentistry), and with Lisa now in post we are able to train future specialists for the first time.

Hannah explained that “Having a specialist-led service locally means that care will be more accessible for families in the area, without needing to travel to large dental hospitals.”

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